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Larson doing his part as Spinners' closer

By Carmine Frongillo, cfrongillo@lowellsun.com

Updated:
06/30/2013 03:57:17 PM EDT

Lowell Spinners baserunner Reed Gragnani is safe at second with a stolen base, avoiding the tag of Vermont second baseman Melvin Mercedes in the second inning of Saturday's NY-Penn League game. SUN/JULIA MALAKIE

LOWELL -- Greg Larson enjoys being out on the mound when a game is on the line.

Larson is quickly emerging as a late-inning fixture in the Lowell Spinners' bullpen. Heading into Saturday's game against the Vermont Lake Monsters, Larson had allowed just 1 hit and 1 unearned run with 1 save while striking out 4 in 41/3 innings pitched during three appearances.

Larson earned his second save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Lake Monsters Saturday. He allowed 1 run on 3 hits with a game-ending strikeout.

Making solid contact against Larson has proven to be a tall order for opposing batters, as this 6-foot-8, 225-pound right-hander has consistently thrown all his pitches for strikes.

"I just come in and don't try to do too much, just throw strikes really," said Larson, 23. "I want to keep the ball down in the zone and make them hit the ball on the ground. I just want to help the team win.

"As a bullpen staff we just try to do our part. When a starter comes out of the game, and we have the lead, it's our job to hold it."

The Boston Red Sox selected Larson in the 20th round in the 2012 draft out of the University of Florida. During his four-years at Florida he compiled a 13-4 record with a 2.91 ERA in 122 games, including 5 starts. His 17 appearances in the NCAA Tournament are the most by a Gator pitcher.

Larson was used primarily as a middle inning reliever at Florida.

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But he appears to have the stuff, and make-up, to be a successful back end of the bullpen go-to guy.

"It doesn't matter to me how I'm used," said Larson. "The mound is always 60-feet, 6-inches away. I was used mainly as set-up man at Florida. There is a little bit more pressure coming in at the end of a game. You have to come in and you don't have as much time to find your arm slot. You have to come in and throw strikes and get guys out.

"It's always nice to have a little bit of a cushion to work with. When the game is close I click into a different level of focus because every pitch means a lot. When it's close, you can't give up that big hit. I just enjoy pitching no matter what the score is, whether it's 10-1 or 1-0. "

Larson made his professional debut with the Spinners last summer, going 1-2 with a 2.76 earned-run average and 2 saves in 15 games. He spent some time with the Greenville Drive of the South Atlantic League this season before reporting to Lowell.

"It's so early, but he looks good out there on the mound," said Spinners manager Bruce Crabbe. "He looks confident. I was impressed with him last year. He did a good job for us.

"He's a college guy with experience. Repeating a level he should be confident and he should be throwing strikes because if he wants to get out of here he has to show us that's what he can do. I'm happy for it, and I'm happy for him. I'm pleased that he's made progress."

Pitching at the minor- league level is not only a game of constant physical adjustments, Larson is learning how to make the mental adjustments needed to succeed over the long haul.

"The biggest thing in general is having a short memory because there are so many games throughout the season," said Larson. "In the New York-Penn League we play almost every single day. When you have a bad outing the quicker you put it behind you the better off you are going to be. You not only have to put it behind you quick, but the next time you go out you have to improve on your mistakes and learn from them."

Spinners on top

The Spinners held on to beat the Lake Monsters, 2-1, Saturday.

Lowell got a great effort on the mound from starting pitcher Sergio Gomez (1-1), who only allowed 2 hits and no runs with 4 strikeouts in 6 innings. The Spinners scored both of their runs in the sixth inning on a wild pitch and two throwing errors after a strikeout by Reed Gragnani.

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